Pat Tillman, 11/6/76 - 4/22/04
From time-to-time most of us get caught up in the mundane things of life like who will be drafted number 1 on Saturday or which horse will take the prize at the Kentucky Derby. However, there are those times in life that shake us to the core and force us to re-focus on the important things like faith, family and country. September 11, 2001 is a date that many of us will remember as being the catalyst that re-focused our priorities and for Pat Tillman it meant so much more. A self-proclaimed Army nut, Tillman saw it as a call to service for his country. So, instead of signing a multi-year million dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals, Tillman chose to join his brother as a member of the United States Army.
On this day five years ago, Pat paid the ultimate sacrifice so that all of us could enjoy the mundane as well as the priorities of life. Since he was a member of an NFL team at the time of his death he’s not considered a retired player, however, we think of Pat as one of our own. Like Pat, many retired players of yesteryear put up their cleats in exchange for combat boots and chose to serve a country that allows the freedom of men playing a boys game. On this day, may Pat Tillman and those retired players who served their country be forever remembered.
